Never been ripped off Never been ripped off

Editor;
Re: Traffic and songthaews (PM Mailbag Friday, 18 January 2013) - I’ve been around this city for over 20 years and can say I have never been ripped off by a songthaew driver. It’s best to have the correct change. When I have had to tender a 20 baht note I smile and say “Kaw Hi Sip Baht Na Khrup.” I have never had a problem this way. Rather the driver looks at me and smiles as he hands me my change.
When in Bangkok and I hire a tuk-tuk I can not claim I was over charged if I pay the agreed price. No need to raise your voice or rant and rave, after all 10 baht is only 33C Aud. Not a big deal for someone who earns 10 times what a Thai takes home.
I love Thailand and I can put up with the way things are. I am a guest here and I didn’t come here to change things.
Aussie Bill

Bike event moved?

Editor;
Re: Burapa Bike Week rolls into Silverlake Vineyard Feb. 15-16 (PM Friday, 18 January 2013) - As thousands of bikers will again be attending this event, can you please re-confirm the location of the Burapha Bike Week? I have been attending this event for many years, and it is always held on the outdoor grounds of the Pattaya Indoor Stadium on Chaiyapreuk 2. Moving the venue to Silverlake Vineyard would represent a Major Change, and unless well-publicized in advance as a major change of venue, this change is very likely to cause major confusion - and result in many, many lost, and angry bikers.
As thousands of bikers from all over Asia attend this fantastic event, please, I am not asking you to do me a favor by carefully confirming this year’s location, I am asking you to confirm the Silverlake Vineyard location for the benefit of all planning on attending. If, in fact, Silverlake Vineyard has been chosen as the 2013 Venue, please re-edit your article and prominently state that for the first time in many years, the venue has been changed to Silverlake Vineyard.
Furthermore, including in that article a Google map with GPS coordinates would be very helpful for the thousands of non-Pattaya-resident bikers to be able to find Silverlake Vineyard, as it is much further down Sukhumvit, and only a small percentage would even know how to find it.
Khop khun mak khrup,
Long-Time Pattaya Resident Biker
Ed’s note: It is indeed at Silverlake. For directions and map, please check http://www.facebook.com/events/493154937376425/
 

Airplane crash ends a dream

Editor;
The 12th of January was almost an ordinary Saturday at the Pattaya Airpark. Airplanes are starting and airplanes are landing. Pilots who have parked their airplanes here in the “Hangars” are flying to other airfields to visit their friends or just for flying over Pattaya or Jomtien Beach to show visitors how the world looks from above. Or a plane is bringing a group of skydivers up in the air so they can slowly slide back to earth. This pleasure causes a queasy feeling and lets the adrenaline increase. The visitors are taking photos and watching the happenings with tension. There was just one thing which made this day different from all the other days: It was Children’s Day. Many children came with their families to watch the aviation with big eyes. The wife of the owner of the Pattaya Airpark, Navaporn “Neil” Sawetawong, was also sitting between the visitors to watch the show.
And then it happened: Neil rolled with a little biplane to the end of the runway and started the machine at 4.42 pm. The engine howled and rolled with rising speed over the runway. But then the engine speed relapsed back in the idle. The plane lifted up for a short time but touched down again. It was already too late to quit the takeoff. Neil was able to raise the speed and to get more highness. He flew a right-hand bend at the side of the runway to probably end up at the start of the runway. But suddenly the engine speed fell back and the so-called “Stable” happened which is a greatly feared situation for pilots. From a highness of 40 meters the plane crashed steep into the ground. Paramedics ran to the accident scene and salvaged Neil unconscious and badly injured out of the wreck. He was brought as fast as possible to the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya but his injuries were too severe and he died at the hospital.
Neil, a visionary, had made his hobby, the flying, to his job and founded the Pattaya Airpark years ago. His dream was to build an airpark in Pattaya like the ones in other countries. He wanted to troop together a group of like-minded people to give them the chance to build a house on the compound of the Pattaya Airpark or to rent a Condominium and to park the plane right next to your house so you can use it as a car. This dream he realized step by step. More and more interested people or pilots joined his dream and came to the PAP. With this tragic accident the dream is over.
Neil, an experienced pilot with thousands of flight hours and decades of practice was only 56 years old. He left behind his wife, who had helped him by setting up the PAP and a grown up daughter.
All members, colleagues and friends are deeply shocked, stunned and speechless about this accident and that he was ripped out of this set. Everyone will always remember him with reverence.
Wezet

Agrees with taxing churches

Editor;
I agree unequivocally with Mr Standiford (PM 18/1) that churches must be taxed and I am informed that in the USA this would provide an income equivalent to the entire revenue from individual tax payers.
It’s not only taxation. In the Philippines today an entire bus was held hostage by a preacher who ranted on non-stop at high volume for twenty minutes. My protests were met with a few smiles and stony silence and my request to the conductor to charge him a fare and make him sit down simply engendered a grin and nothing else. I mention this as it displays another example of how religion ignores the normal rules of a civilized society. Would the passenger have tolerated the man if he had been a politician? I think not.
A similar example in my own country is that of sanctimonious busybodies criticising the second in line for the throne for not attending church regularly. That same church is now telling people to give up using their computers for lent! This is not merely stupid and downright inconsiderate but looks rather like an own goal! It might have been better to have told people to give up going to church for lent.
L. Ron Hubbard, the fraud and con artist who founded the Church of Scientology, was one of the most successful religious scammers since the medieval popes and he said, “If you want to make money, start a religion!”
As a proactive suggestion to anyone who wishes to promote the taxation of churches, a good idea would be to start a petition on the internet.
Yours etc.
Michael Nightingale
UK

Acceleration is more important

Editor;
Re: Do we need 300 km/h vehicles on our roads? (PM Automania Friday, 25 January 2013) - I disagree (with Dr Iain about how we don’t need 300 km/h vehicles on our roads); high performance cars are not only built for Thailand but other markets like Germany where the full performance can be realised on appropriate limit free roads. Also, its not only top speed but acceleration that is more important in my view. I once hit 200 in my (chipped) Fortuner by the way and found it rather scary.
Stephen Henry

Law and order is strictly required

Editor;
Re: Highway Police join city forces in erecting roadway checkpoints (PM Friday, 25 January 2013) - I really pray this is not a false start and will continue in keeping with the will to make Pattaya into a clean, safe and green city for everyone. 30 million tourists per year by 2017 is a lot of people (average of nearly 2.5million people flowing through monthly). Law and order is strictly required and cowboys & cowgirls need to go.
Jacko

Jomtien beach is unsafe for the unwary

Editor;
Re: Polish woman struck by speedboat, dies (PM Friday, 18 January 2013) - As a Jomtien resident I often sit in the late afternoon watching the irresponsible and dangerous behaviour of Banana boat and jet ski owners and hirers. A lot of it is just ‘showboating’. I’m surprised more swimmers aren’t killed! There needs to be an exclusion zone distance with defined access ways to the beach for these craft, which in the wrong hands are potentially lethal. Jomtien beach is unsafe for the unwary!
Joe Brown

Never been ripped off

Bike event moved?

Airplane crash ends a dream

Agrees with taxing churches

Acceleration is more important

Jomtien beach is unsafe for the unwary